Letter: Crossroad for Ionia Public Schools district voters

Friday

May 4, 2018 at 2:01 AM

On May 8, 2018, the voters of the Ionia Public School district will vote on a 3 mill sinking fund proposal for repairs to building facilities and technology upgrades. This proposal was previously voted down in the November 2017 election.

A “YES”vote would mean the following:

Ionia Public Schools would have funding for 10 years to make repairs to facilities within its jurisdiction.Ionia Public Schools currently has only a five year plan for such facility improvements.Ionia Public Schools would continue to budget only 1 percent of their total budget for maintenance costs as they have done in the past.

One needs to ask the question, is this a budget structural problem that has promoted Ionia Public Schools to ask voters for more millage to make repairs to its facilities?

A “NO” vote would mean the following:

Ionia Public Schools would need to come back to voters with a reduced millage request with smaller cuts.Ionia Public Schools would need to change their budgeting process to become more fiscally responsible to the voters of the district. This may include a long term facility plan.Ionia Public Schools would need to visit the question, do they need to continue to take out district students who's parents do not support debt millage or possible future facility millage's?

If you believe as I do, that a lesser amount of millage accompanied with structural changes to Ionia Public Schools budgeting process should be the future path for Ionia Public Schools, please join me in voting “NO” on May 8.

Lynn Lafler

Ionia

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